This Thursday, June 17, Argentina marks the bicentennial of the death of Martin Miguel de Güemes, one of the heroes of Independence and a key player in the strategy of liberator General Jose de San Martin to free the territory from Spanish rule.

Güemes was born in 1785 in the city of Salta, a province in northern Argentina: he would be the governor of this district for six years, elected by an assembly He was a caudillo idolized by his troops. His ranks were made up of gaucho men, and women of all social classes.

He was instrumental in the defence of the territory through guerrilla warfare, (dubbed "guerra de zapa").

Güemes, like many in the north of Argentina, put their money at the disposal of the Independence effort, to finance the purchase of horses, weapons and food for the Army. The women, meanwhile, formed a closed network of espionage among the ranks of the Spaniards and managed to learn about key movements of the King's Army.

To this day his figure is celebrated and commemorated with passion in the province of Salta. The gauchos currently wear the typical red poncho of that province but with two black ribbons, in mourning for the death of the General, as he is still called. He died at the age of 36 on June 17, 1821.

Fernando Farías
Production: Silvana Avellaneda - Julián Cortez